LAHORE: (Wednesday, February 21, 2024): Punjab University Department of Plant Pathology’s first research advisory board meeting was held at PU Club. PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Chairperson DPP Prof Dr Tehmina Anjum, Director General PW&QCP Dr Ghulam Abbas and other officials from various industries were present. In his address, PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood appreciated the efforts of the DPP in providing a platform to industry, academia and government sector to discuss issues related to agriculture research promotion. He said that PU is open for any type of linkage with industry as this is a need of time to sit together and work for betterment of agriculture that is the backbone of the country’s economy. Dr Tehmina Anjum welcomed the participants. She said that this is a step to bridge the gap between academia, industry and the government sector. The participants gave valuable suggestions and emphasized on the need of commercialization of research done in universities. Rashid Ahmad, Executive Director Crop Life Pakistan; Dr. Ahmad Saleem Akhtar, GM, Research & Development Tara Group; Dr. Khalid Hameed, CEO Tara Group; Dr. Khalid Aziz, Sr. Manager Agri. Business Rafhan Maize Products Co. Ltd; Muhammad Rizwan Younis, GM Agri Division Guard Rice; Ayesha Gulzar, Country Director JE Austin Associates USAID; Dr. Sabin Fatima, Deputy Director (PP) HQ PW&QCP; Zeeshan Zulfiqar, Director NF Biotech; Tahir Saleemi, Managing Director, Haji Sons; Faraz Ali Butt, Technology Development Manager–Agri, Lucky Core Industries; Ch. Najaf Rasool, Chief Executive Animal Care Sciences; Sajid Sandhu, CEO Green Circle; Sohail Siddique, Capricorn Associates Agro division; Shahid Saleem, GM Technical Vital Agri Nutrients; Salman Zafar, CABI; Imran Sheikh, Galaxy Rice Pakistan and Moeed Akhtar, Operation Manager Microbial Biotechnologies (Pvt) Ltd were also attended the meeting.